Convenient timing? Mel B and husband battle marriage split reports as her new reality TV show is set to debut

Mel B and her husband, Stephen Belafonte, were putting on a united front together last night as they dined together at Katsuya restaurant in Hollywood.

The couple left the celebrity favourite restaurant holding hands, amid reports that their three year marriage is over.

Belafonte is alleged to have called a journalist at the Sunday Mirror last week to personally tell him their relationship was over and that Mel would be returning to Britain without him.

United front: Melanie Brown and Stephen Belafonte left Katsuya restaurant hand in hand last night amid reports their three year marriage is over

They may well have been holding hands last night but neither raised a smile and Belafonte was positively grim faced as he lead his wife to the waiting car.

It could be said that the reports of marriage woes come at a convenient time for the former Spice Girl.

Her new reality TV show is due to launch in the U.S. next week and any publicity is bound to help viewing figures.

The Mirror report that Belafonte told them he has consulted lawyers in Los Angeles to finalize a separation.

Brown has kept uncharacteristically quiet and has not commented on the reports on her Twitter page or blog, nor via her publicist.

Grim faced: Neither Brown or Belafonte raised a smile as they walked to their waiting car

A friend of Brown reportedly told the Sunday Mirror: 'They've not been happy for a long time
and there's been rowing.

'Mel's been talking about getting out. They're
still talking to see if things can be worked out. But she's making plans
to come back to the U.K. on a more permanent basis.

'Stephen hasn't been
mentioned as joining her and has been consulting lawyers.'

As for the reason behind the alleged split?

The friend claims: 'Part of the problem is jealousy. They are both livid when the other one
gets attention for another person.

'They constantly want to know where
the other one is... it's been an ongoing problem right from the start."'

Brown and Belafonte quietly married in Las Vegas in June 2007. They renewed their vows in a marriage ceremony in Egypt in November 2008.

Reality family: Brown's new show It's A Scary Life will feature Belafonte and her two children from previous relationships, Angel, 3 and 11-year-old Phoenix

Brown's reality show, which will air on the Style Network in the U.S. is called It's A Scary Life and will chronicle the every day life of the 35-year-old singer as she juggles her career with family life.

The show will also feature Belafonte and Brown's two children from previous relationships, 3-year-old Angel and Phoenix, 11.

Style network president Salaam Coleman Smith says of the show: 'Style is all about transformations and we love that Mel has evolved her
image and sought new challenges throughout her career while also taking
on the ups, downs and everything in between that come with motherhood
and marriage.

Back in the day: Brown shot to fame as Scary Spice in the mega-successful girl band The Spice Girls

'With her infectious humour and signature "Girl Power"
style, Mel is an outstanding addition to our network and we're thrilled
to have her as a new face of Style.'

Brown's career in the U.S. has been taking off as of late.

She participated in the 2007 season of Dancing With The Stars, pairing up with Maksim Chermerskiy and finishing in second place.

The following year she hosted the Singing Office reality series with former boy band member Joey Fatone.